Footwear



May 16, 1944. c. o. WALPER 2,349,216

FOOTWEAR Filed May 10, 1943 Patented May 16, 1944- UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE FOOTWEAR Curry Ora Walper, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Application May 10, 1943, Serial No. 486,358

20 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the heels of footwear of the character disclosed in my previous application for patent, Serial Number 433,181, filed March 3, 1942, and allowed March 11, 1943, which invention consisted essentially of a heel having a tongue extending forwardly from the lower portion of the breast and having also on its inner side wall a ledge convergent with the tongue, the object being to provide means in footwear for preventing accumulated drip from being ejected from the heel of the footwear on one foot to the back of the leg belonging to the other foot.

In the previous structure the sides of the tongue merged to a point located beneath the shank portion of the footwear broadly speaking in a zone removed from the side of the article of footwear which when said article is worn as a member of a pair lies next the other member, or more specifically, roughly on the median line of the footwear. Generally speaking the object of the invention was well accomplished by that position of the tongue point. However, it has been found that many persons have a certain abnormality in walking, that is to say, they toe out after lifting their feet from the ground and in so doing so tilt them that the inside edge of the heel and the projecting tongue fall considerably lower than the outside edge, similarly causing the corner of the tongue where it merges with the ledge to fall on a plane lower than the point or tip, thereby causing the tongue to actually defeat its purpose by discharging the water at the corner instead of as intended from the tip. This is particularly true when combined with these dimculties the tongue has perhaps become upwardly bent or otherwise deformed or warped by constant flexing in use.

The principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to obviate the defeat of the previous invention for those persons particularly who tilt their feet laterally and. toe out to an extraordinary degree when walking, first, by reshaping the tongue by transferring the position of the tip from its former median position to one substantially forward of the inner corner of the breast of the heel, and second, by deflecting the plane of the tongue inwardly and downwardly so that the water will be shed at the tip the same as it is when the tip is medially disposed on footwear designed for wear by persons who walk normally.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for stimulating the elasticity of the tongue, that is to say, for preventing the tongue from becoming deformed or curled by constant flection during the use of the footwear.

Still another important object is to provide a device of the kind specified which will be simple, effective, and inexpensive to produce and purchase.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically claimed. 7

In the accompanying drawing like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a heel constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the inside or right side of the heel for an article of footwearfor wear on the left foot.

Figure 2 is an opposite side view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the structure as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 5 is a partial rear and side perspective view as the footwear is seen when first raised from the ground preliminary to an advancemetion by a person having the aforesaid abnormality.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the heel solidly on the ground and shown partially in cross section.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional top view taken on the line L-l of Figure 6. 1

In the drawing 10 indicates the heel of a left article of footwear here shown typically in the form of that impervious protective covering for shoes commonly'known as rubbers or galoshes. The shank portion of the footwear is indicated by the numeral H, and it will be understood while the heel here shown is for the left foot, the parts hereinafter described are applicable to the like article as worn on the right foot and which with the left forms a pair, but will obviously occur in reverse arrangement.

On theinner side of the heel is a ledge l2 which merges with the adjacent side of the tongue l3, essentially as it has been previously disclosed in the prior patent and for like purposes. Similarly, the tongue l3 extends forwardly from the base portion of the breast of the heel, the bottom of the tongue being substantially even with the corresponding surface of the heel tread and the tongue being spaced from the shank portion II.

In the former disclosure, the tongue was described as having its sides merging to a point or tip which was located under the shank portion roughly on the median line of the article of footwear and the water adhering to the various surfaces of the heel found a common destination at the tip of the tongue from which it was ejected in the path of the forward movement of the foot, impelled by such forward movement.

As has been formerly stated, the previous invention functioned Well when worn by those persons having a normal gait, that is to say, who

lift their feet and carry them forward with the median line of each foot substantially parallel with the path intended to be taken and with the soles substantially transversely level. The loca tion of the tip as described in the former application diverted the discharge from the area between the feet of the wearer. However, in order to meet the specific requirements of that commercially consequential section of the public who abnormally toe out and in doing so incline or cant their feet during the period they are off the ground while walking, thereby causing the inner edge of the heel and tongue to fall lower than the opposite or outer edge which would cause the water to flow from the corner of the heel rather than from the tip of the tongue, the present invention consists in transferring the location of the tongue from the median zone of the footwear and offsetting it to the inner side roughly forward of the inner heel corner, and furthermore deflecting or twisting the tongue downwardly and inwardly from the plane of the heel tread so that it is certain to leave the ground last when the foot is raised, thereby shedding most of the water by molecular attraction rather than by precipitation.

Despite the fact that in the present invention the tip of the tongue is in this offset position which actually brings it closer to the opposite foot and to the leg belonging to that foot, nevertheless as can be readily seen, considering a person having the abnormality previously mentioned, the tip of the tongue during the advance movement of the foot falls considerably outside a line drawn parallel with the path of the walker through the inner corner of the heel where ordinarily in the complete absence of the tongue the precipitation would occur. In other Words, the offset tip of the tongue when the footwear is worn by a person having the aforesaid abnormality falls approximately in the same relative position as the more medially situated tip designed for normal walkers.

While the tongue I3 is elastic, by constant fiection during the act of walking it eventually has a tendency to deform or curl upwardly from the base of the heel breast. In order therefore to keep the tongue in its normal moulded form, spring means are employed consisting for instance of a leaf spring l5 embedded partially in the elastic material of the tongue and partially in the heel, the heel thereby serving as an anchorage for the spring.

There has thus been provided a simple and efiicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

Itis obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

I claim:

1. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel and from there to its tip said tongue being normally twisted to form a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity extending from the breast of the heel to said pointed tip.

2. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel and from there to its tip said tongue being normally twisted to form a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity extending from the breast of the heel to said pointed tip, said tip being disposed in a zone roughly forward of the side of the heel of the article of footwear which when said article is worn as a member of a pair falls next the other member.

3. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel, said tongue having a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity in its upper surface extending from the breast of the heel to said pointed tip.

4. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion'and a heel, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel, said tongue having a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity in its upper surface extending from the breast of the heel to said pointed tip, said tip being disposed in a zone roughly forward of the side of the heel of the article of footwear which when said article is worn as a member of a pair falls next the other member.

5. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel, said tongue having a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity in its lower surface extending from the breast-line of the heel to said pointed tip.

6. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel, said tongue having a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity in its lower surface extending from the breast-line of the heel to said pointed tip, 'said tip being disposed in a zone roughly forward of the side of the heel of the article of footwear which when said article is worn as a member of a pair falls next the other member.

'7. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a ledge on the side of the heel which when the article of footwear is worn as a. member of a pair lies next the heel of the other member, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel and from there to its tip said tongue being normally twisted to form a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity extending from the breast of the heel to said pointed tip, the upper surfaces of said ledge and said tongue being in communication.

8. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a ledge on the side of the heel which when the article of footwear is worn as a member of a pair lies next the heel of the other member, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the'heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel and from there to its tip said tongue being normally twisted to form a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity extending from the breast of the heel to said pointed tip, said tip being disposed in a zone roughly forward of the ledge, the upper surfaces of said ledge and said tongue being in communication.

9. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a ledge on the side of the heel which when the article of footwear is worn as a member of a pair lies next the heel of the other member, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue n the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel, said tongue having a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity in its upper surface extending from the breast of the heel to said pointed tip, the upper surfaces of said ledge and said tongue being in communication.

10. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a ledge on the side of the heel which when the article of footwear is worn as a member of a pair lies next the heel of the other member, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel, said tongue having a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity in its upper surface extending from the breast of the heel to said pointed tip, said tip being disposed in a zone roughly forward of the ledge, the upper surfaces of said ledge and said tongue being in communication.

11. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a ledge on the side of the heel which when the article of footwear is worn as a member of a pair lies next the heel of the other member, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel, said tongue having a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity in its lower surface extending from the breast-line of the heel to said pointed tip, the upper surfaces of said ledge and said tongue being in communication.

12. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a ledge on the side of the heel which when the article of footwear is worn as a member of a pair lies next the heel of the other member, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel, said tongue having a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity in its lower surface extending from the breast-line of the heel to said pointed tip, said tip being disposed in a zone roughly forward of the ledge, the upper surfaces of said ledge and said tongue being in communication.

13. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a pointedly tipped elastically flexible tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, and means for stimulating the elasticity of said tongue.

14. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a pointedly tipped flexible tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, a leaf spring embedded partially in said tongue and partially in said heel whereby said spring is anchored in the heel and promotes elasticity to the tongue.

15. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, a pointedly tipped elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, the tip of said tongue being disposed in a zone roughly forward of the side of the heel of the article of footwear which when said article is worn as a member of a pair falls next the other member.

16. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, an elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel and from there to its extremity said tongue being normally twisted to form a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity extending from the breast of the heel.

1'7. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, an elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel, said tongue having a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity in its upper surface extending from the breast of the heel to its extremity.

18. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, an elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, said tongue beginning from the heel breast with its bottom surface substantially even with the plane of the tread surface of the heel, said tongue having a forwardly and inwardly directed declivity in its lower surface extending from the breastline of the heel to its extremity.

19. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, an elastically flexible tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, and means for stimulating the elasticity of said tongue.

20. In an article of footwear which includes a shank portion and a heel, an elastic tongue on the heel and extending in advance of the breast thereof and spaced from the shank portion, the extremity of said tongue being disposed in a zone roughly forward of the side of the heel of the article of footwear which when said article is Worn as a member of a pair falls next the other member.

CURRY ORA WALPER. 

